The Givenchy Royal Hanover Chandelier, 1736 (silver)

A GERMAN SILVER EIGHT-LIGHT CHANDELIER BY BALTHASAR FRIEDRICH BEHRENS, HANOVER, DELIVERED 13 SEPTEMBER 1736, DESIGNED BY THE KING'S ARCHITECT WILLIAM KENT With fluted and acanthus-clad ring handle headed by an acanthus baluster knop, rising to an everted openwork acanthus calyx forming the cul-de-lamp and a central fluted vase-shaped standard with ovolo border at the shoulder flanked by four addorsed and acanthus-wrapped sphinx floating on acanthus, each on two acanthus and lion's paw curved supports and applied with 'cupid-torch' cornucopia, each with two scroll acanthus-clad and beaded branches with fluted vase-shaped wax pans and part-fluted spool-shaped sockets, the central 'krater'-shaped standard applied above with massive floral garlands descending from lion masks, rising to a central orb applied twice with the prancing horse of Hanover and with two clambering naked putti rising from rushes, the whole surmounted by the Royal crown with orb and cross and silvered ring above, with central iron rod, drilled for electricity, most components with assay scrapes, each numbered and lettered B, struck only with later French control marks Commissioned by King George II of Great Britain and Elector of Hanover (r.1727-1760) for his palace in Hanover